Method and appatatus for forming a blank

ABSTRACT

In a method and apparatus for forming a blank into an article, the blank is supported by suitable means. A blank deforming means is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the blank and is movable axially relative thereto. A contour means cooperates with the deforming means as the deforming means moves along the longitudinal axis of the blank and controls the deforming means. The contour means comprises a cam surface along which the deforming means moves and which controls the position of the deforming means relative to the blank and thus controls the shape of the article formed by the deforming means.

United States Patent Baginski Apr. 17, 1973 [5 METHOD AND APPATATUS FOR 1,318,962 10/1919 Brinkman ..72 75 FORMING A BLANK 1,957,387 5/1934 Cassady ..72 75 3,517,534 6/1970 Werner et al.... ....72/85 Inventor: Martin Robert Baginski, Ashtabula, 1,778,181 10 1930 Brinkman ..72/96 Ohio [73] Assignee: Ashtabula Bow Socket Company, Exami"er Richard J' Herbst Ashtabula, Ohio AtzomeyYount and Tarolli [22] Filed: Aug. 24, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT In a method and apparatus for forming a blank into an article, the blank is supported by suitable means. A blank deforming means is rotatable about the longitu- [52] Cl dinal axis of the blank and is movable axially relative [51] Int. Cl ..B2lc 37/18 thereto. A contour means cooperates with the deform- [58] Field of Search 72/75, 85,115,121,

72 122 123 mg means as the deforming means moves along the I longitudinal axis of the blank and controls the deform- 1 ing means. The contour means comprises a cam sur- [56] References C'ted face along which the deforming means moves and UNITED STATES PATENTS which controls the position of the deforming means relatlve to the blank and thus controls the shape of the 1,954,961 4/1934 Sutherland ..72/467 article formed by the deforming means, 1,783,384 12/1930 Miiller ..72/75 3,431,764 3/1969 Kennedy et a1 ..72 121 2 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures 206 22 /32 6 /70 //0 /4 z 20 455 A 2 /6 w //6 I //4 64 2M /6 /3o -/a0 1 2 200 /84 226 04 224 /32 2/2 T 8? 202 METHOD AND APPATATUS FOR FORMING A BLANK The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for forming a blank into an article, and particularly relates to a method and an apparatus for forming a blank into an article wherein a deforming means and the blank are moved relatively axially, as well as relatively rotationally with respect to each other.

Known methods and apparatuses for forming a blank into an article provide for relative rotation between the blank and the deforming means, as well as relative axial movement of the deforming means and the blank. One such example is illustrated in US. Pat. No. 1,418,697. Such machines have been complicated in providing the various relative movements which are necessary to the formation of the blank into the article, and particularly have been complicated when the article being formed is to have a tapered surface thereon.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus wherein the deforming means and the blank are provided with the relative axial and rotational movements, but wherein these are effected in a simplified practical manner so that an article can be readily formed thereby. In general, the deforming means of the present invention rotates about the longitudinal axis of the blank. The mechanism which effects such rotation of the deforming means about the longitudinal axis of the blank also forms a portion of the mechanism which moves the deforming means axially relative to the blank. Accordingly, rotation of the blank is not required by the present machine.

Moreover, a contour means is provided which cooperates with the deforming means and which has a shape corresponding to the shape of the article to be formed. The contour means may be readily changed to allow the machine of the present invention to produce articles to be formed. The contour means controls the position of the deforming means as the deforming means moves along the longitudinal axis and thus controls the shape of the article formed by the deforming means. In this manner, during the formation of the article, the contour means need not be moved relative to the article. Moreover, the present invention provides a simplified and effective arrangement for effecting lubrication of the deforming means as it deforms the article but which lubrication system does not effect any substantial cooling of the article which would impair the operation of the deforming means.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved method and apparatus for forming a blank into an article, wherein a blank deforming means moves axially relative to the blank and rotationally relative to the blank to effect the formation of the blank, and, more specifically, wherein the blank deforming means rotates about the longitudinal axis of the blank and also is moved along the longitudinal axis of the blank.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved method and apparatus for forming a blank into an article, as noted in the next preceding paragraph, and which is capable of producing articles of various shapes.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved method and apparatus for forming a blank into an article and wherein an articledeforming means rotates about the longitudinally axis of the blank and is movable axially relative thereto, and a contour means cooperates with the deforming means and controls the deforming means as the deforming means moves along the longitudinal axis of the blank to control the shape of the article formed by the deforming means.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved apparatus for forming a blank into an article, wherein the apparatus is of a simplified practical construction and includes a deforming means which rotates relative to the longitudinal axis of a blank and moves axially relative to the blank, and wherein the mechanism which effects the longitudinal rotation of the deforming means also effects, in part, the axial movement of the deforming means along the axis of rotation of the blank.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved apparatus for forming a blank into an article as hereinabove described wherein the mechanism which effects the rotational and axial movement of the deforming means, as noted in the preceding paragraph, comprises a rotary nut and screw arrangement wherein provision is made to disengage the rotary nut from the screw after the formation of the blank into the article.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved apparatus for forming a blank into an article as hereinabove described wherein a deforming means rotates relative to the blank and contour means cooperates with the deforming means and has a shape corresponding to the shape of the article to be formed, and wherein the deforming means moves relative to the contour means and is controlled thereby to thus control the shape of the article formed by the deforming means.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof made with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing an apparatus for forming a blank in a position prior to forming a blank into an article;

FIG. 2 shows a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 after the blank has been partially formed into an article;

FIG. 3 shows a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 after the blank has been completely formed into an article;

FIG. 4 shows a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as a portion of the apparatus is moving to the position shown in FIG. 1 prior to forming the blank into an article;

FIG. 5 is a schematic side elevational view of a mechanism for gripping the blank while the blank is being formed into an article;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentaiy sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and taken along line 6- 6 thereof;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of the portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 7 after relative movement of the FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of an article formed from a blank by the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of yet another article which is manufactured by the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a stepped article which is manufactured by the machine shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 12 shows an article which may be formed by the apparatus of the present invention in relative positions of the members which deform a blank into such an article.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for forming a blank into an article wherein a deforming means and the blank are moved relatively axially as well as rotationally with respect to each other. The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for forming the blank into an article in a simplified and practical manner and is capable of producing articles of various shapes. In addition the present invention provides a simplified arrangement for effecting the lubrication of the means which deforms the blank into the article, but which lubrication system does not effect any substantial cooling of the article which would impair the operation of the deforming means. The present invention also provides a method and apparatus for rapidly forming a blank into an article while being substantially silent in operation. The present invention may be applied to methods and apparatus for forming blanks into articles of a wide variety of constructions and designs and for purposes of illustration is described in the drawings as applied to the apparatus 10 as shown in FIG. 1.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a blank supporting means generally indicated at 12 for receiving and supporting a blank 18 therein. A contour means 14 and a blank deforming means 16 is movable to a position adjacent to the portion of the blank to be formed, as shown in FIG. 1, prior to deformation of the blank 18. The apparatus 10 also includes a drive mechanism generally indicated at 20, to effect rotation and axial movement of the blank deforming means 16. When the contour means 14 is located in the position, generally indicated at 22, the drive mechanism 20 is activated so that relative rotation between and axial movement of the deforming means 16 and the blank 18 is effected. The deforming means 16 is controlled by the contour means 14 so that as the deforming means moves along the blank 18, the blank is formed into the shape prescribed by'the contour means. After such formation has taken place the contour means 14 and deforming means 16 are moved to a retracted position 24, as seen in FIG. 3, so that the blank supporting means 12 may release the article therefrom.

The blank supporting means 12 of the apparatus 10, shown in FIG. 1, receives a blank 18 from the feeder mechanism, schematically shown at 26. The feeder mechanism 26 is of any suitable construction which conveys a blank 18 to the blank supporting means 12 when the apparatus 10 is ready to receive the blank therein.

The blank supporting means 12 maybe of any suitable construction. One such construction is shown in FIG. 5 which includes a pair of arms 30 having complementary fluid cylinders 32 associated therewith. The

arms 30 are pivotally supported about the pins 34 which are in turn secured to the frame of the apparatus 10. In a like manner the cylinders 32 have one end thereof pivotally secured to the frame by the pins 36. A pivotal connection 38 is provided between the rods 40 of the cylinders 32 and the arms 30. Thus, when a cylinder rod 40' is moved in one direction its corresponding arm 30 is consequently rotated in one direction and conversely when the cylinder rod 40 is moved in the other direction the arm 30 rotates in that opposite direction about the pin 34. Such movement effects gripping of the blank as will be hereinafter described.

The cylinders 32 move the anns 30 to a position 44 so that when the blank 18 drops from the feeder mechanism 26, the cars 46 of the arms 30 are in the position 44 so that the blank 18 does not drop through a space between the arms 30. Thus, the ears 46 of the arms 30 support the blank. The cylinders 32 are then actuated to rotate the arms 30 from the position 44 to a position shown at 50 so that the clamping surfaces 52 of the arms 30 engage a portion of the peripheral surface of the blank. The cylinder 32 continues to exert a force on the arms 30 so that the blank 18 is clamped by the arms 30. Thus, the blank 18 is gripped in a position so that the deforming means 16 may form the blank 18 into an article.

The deforming means 16 shown in FIG. 7 includes a plurality of deforming members 60 located. about the periphery and along a portion of the axial extent of the blank and in contact with the blank. These members 60 are received in openings 62 in a torque tube 64. The openings 62 in the torque tube 64 are spaced about the circumference and along a portion of the longitudinal axis of the blank 18 and are of sufficient size to slideably receive the deforming members 60. If the deforming members 60 are spherical members, as shown in the drawings, the openings 62 are at least as great in diameter as the spherical members 60. Such an opening allows the deforming members 60 to move radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the blank as they move along the blank to form the blank into an article. The inner portion 61 of the openings 62 is adjacent to the blank 18 and defines an opening which is less than the diameter of the spherical deforming member 60 so that when the deforming member 60 has completed its work stroke, it will not drop through the opening 62.

It should be understood that the surface finish of the article formed from the blank is dependent on the shape of the deforming member 60 and the amount of penetration or deformation each deforming member makes or creates in the blank when forming the blank into an article. As the penetration of a deforming member into the blank increases, the quality of the surface finish decreases. Therefore, surface finish of the article may be improved by increasing the number of deforming members thus decreasing the penetration required of each of the individual deforming members.

It should be understood that the deforming members 60 may have a geometric configuration other than a sphere. One alternative configuration is rollers which may be used to provide a smoother finish on the surface of the completed article. It should be understood that such rollers may have many shapes dependent on the article to be formed.

When the deforming means 16 and contour means 14 are in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 prior to formation of the blank 18, a cam surface 66 of the contour means 14 contacts the deforming members 60 to maintain the deforming members in engagement with the blank 18. The cam surface 66 creates the radial movement of the deforming members 60 as they move axially with respect to the blank 18. Thus, when the defonning members 60 move axially, rotatably and radially about the blank, they deform the blank 18 into an article having a configuration dependent on the geometrical configuration of the cam surface 66. For purposes of illustration the apparatus 10, shown in FIGS. 1 through 9, is described in connection with the formation of a tapered article from a solid rod blank. It should be understood that articles having other configurations may be manufactured with the apparatus as will be hereinafter described.

To manufacture an article having a taper thereon from a rod blank 18 the cam surface 66 has a tapered shape complementary with the tapered outer peripheral surface of the article to be manufactured. The tapered cam surface 66 is generally circular in cross-section having a diameter decreasing from a larger diameter end to a small diameter end. The cam surface 66 of the contour means 64 defines the inner peripheral surface of a tool member 70.

It should be noted that the deforming members 60 vary in size dependent on their axial position along the torque tube 64. Thus, the deforming members 60 closest to the larger diameter end of the tool member 70 are larger than the defomiing members spaced therefrom. The diameter of the cam surface 66 on the larger diameter end of the tool member 70 is equal to the diameters of the largest deforming members 60 and the original diameter of the rod blank 18. The diameter at the other end is equal to the diameters of the largest deforming members 60 and the diameter of the smallest end of the tapered article.

Then these deforming members 60 are moved for forming the article as described herein, the deforming members successively form the blank. The smaller deforming members 60 partially form the blank and successive forming steps are made by each successive deforming member 60.

As hereinabove described, the contour surface 66 extends about the peripheral surface of the blank 18. As the deforming members 60 are moved rotatably and axially with respect to the blank 18 by the torque tube 64, the cam surface 66 forces the deforming members 60 radially toward the center of the rod blank 18 and consequently effects deformation of the blank 18.

A spiral groove 72 is provided in the outer periphery 74 of the tool member 70 to allow a cooling fluid to flow therethrough. A sleeve mounting member 76 is provided to receive the tool member 70 therein so that its inner peripheral surface 78 closes the open side of the spiral groove 72. The cooling fluid flows from a fluid inlet 80, around the spiral groove 72 and exits therefrom through the outlet 82. The cooling fluid is received from the outlet 82 by a fluid supply mechanism, shown schematically at 84 in FIG. 1, which cools and pressurizes the cooling fluid and returns the cooling fluid to the inlet 80.

The cooling fluid serves to cool the contour means 14 and dissipate any heat conducted thereto which has been generated by the formation of the blank 18. This maintains the cam surface 66 in a cooled condition. In

addition, such a cooling method does not remove heat from the blank 18, but rather allows the blank 18 to retain as much heat as possible so that it may be more readily formed as the machine continues to operate.

The mounting member 76 has an end plate 88 secured to one end thereof by means of threaded members 90. A sealing means 92 is interposed between the member 76 and the plate 88 and blocks the flow of fluid from the groove 72. The end plate 88 being removable allows the tool member to be removed from the mounting member 76 and a new tool member having a different contour replaced therefore. When a new tool 70 is positioned in the member 76 the geometric configuration of the article formed by the machine will be varied thereby. In the event that a plurality of interchangeable tools 70 are provided for varying the article formed, the cost of manufacturing such tools may be decreased by eliminating the spiral groove 72 in the tools and forming the groove in the mounting member 76.

The contour means 14 includes another end plate 96 secured to the mounting member 76 by any conventional means such as threaded fasteners. A sealing means 98 is provided between the end member 96 and member 70 and functionsin a manner ashereinabove describedrin connection with the sealing means 92.

A retaining cup 100 is secured to the end member 96 by any suitable means, such as threaded fasteners 102. The retaining member 100 has an opening 104 to receive the torque tube 64 therein. Sealing means 106 is provided between the opening 104 and the torque tube 64 to provide a fluid. tight seal therebetween. The retaining cup l00'retains the deforming members 60 in the openings 62 of the torque tube 64 when the article has been formed and the deforming mechanism 16 is in a retracted position with respect to the contour means 14.

In order to form an article from the blank 18, it is necessary to rotate the deforming means 16. As noted above, the drive means 20 effects rotation of the torque tube 64 of the deforming means 16. The torque tube 64 has a flange portion 110 secured to the flange 112 of a drive shaft 1 14 which forms a part of the drive means, as seen in FIG. 1. As a result, the drive shaft 114 and the torque tube 64 are connected so as to move as a unit.

In order to provide rotational movement to the torque tube 64, the drive shaft 114 has a series of splines 116 which cooperate with a complementary spline member 118. The spline member 118 is secured to the output portion 1 19 of a clutch mechanism of any conventional design and schematically illustrated at 120. The input portion 121 of clutch 120 is secured to and driven by a fly wheel 122. The clutch 120 may be selectively energized to connect the input portion 121 to the output portion 119 so that the drive shaft 114 is rotated upon rotation of the fly wheel 122. The complementary spline member 118 and spline portion 116 of the drive shaft 114 allow the drive shaft 1 14 to move axially with respect to the fly wheel 122 and consequently allow the deforming members 60 to move axially with respect to the blank 18 to effect deforming of the blank into an article as herein described. Torque is transmitted to the fly wheel 122 by any suitable means such as a plurality of belts 124 drivingly connecting a drive pulley 126 with the fly wheel 122. The drive pulley 126 is driven by an conventional means such as a motor 128 drivingly connected to the drive pulley 126.

Bearings 130 are provided in upright frame members 132 of the apparatus 10 to rotatably support the drive shaft 114. The bearings 130 and frame members 132 also axially restrain the fly wheel 122, clutch 120 and spline member 118 so that only the drive shaft 114 moves axially with respect to the frame members 132.

A mechanism 134 is provided to impart axial movement to the drive shaft 114 and consequently to the torque tube 64. The mechanism 134 selectively cooperates with a threaded portion 144 of the drive shaft 1 14 to translate a portion of the rotational movement into axial movement.

The mechanism 134 includes a member 150 having a plurality of openings 152 therein best shown in FIG. 6. The member 150 has an axial passage or opening 142 therethrough and through which the drive shaft 1 14 extends. The openings 152 are positioned about circumference of the opening 142 of the member 150 and along a portion of the axial extent thereof. Thread engaging members 154 are provided in the openings 152 and have a tapered end portion 156 having a configuration complementary with the threads 146 of a threaded portion 144 of the drive shaft 114 so that when the end portions 156 are positioned between the threads 146, the threads are engaged thereby as shown in the upper portion of FIG. 6.

The mechanism 134 is secured to the frame 136 of the apparatus 10 by means of a frame member 138. As seen in FIG. 6 the mechanism 134 is secured to the frame member 138 by a threaded end portion 140 thereof threadedly engaing the member 138. The frame member 138 is suitably connected, such to the remainder of the frame 136.

When the clutch 120 is energized and the drive shaft 114 is rotated, the members 154 when in an engaged position, serve to provide axial movement of the drive shaft 114 due to the rotational movement of the drive shaft. Consequently, the deforming means 116 is moved both axially and radially with respect to the blank.

It should be apparent from the above that the mechanism provides for axial movement of the deforming mechanism. It is to be understood that such axial movement is created by the rotational movement of the drive shaft. As the deforming mechanism moves axially, the deforming members 60 move along the cam surface 66 and are urged radially inwardly by the cam surface 66 to effect deformation of the blank 18, as described hereinabove. This axial movement of the deforming mechanism relative to the blank 18 continues until the deforming mechanism 16 moves to the retracted position 24 thereof, shown in FIG. 3, in which the deforming members 60 are out of engagement with the blank 18. A new blank may then be positioned in the machine and the deforming mechanism returned to its original position 22 for shaping the new blank.

The deforming mechanism 16 is returned to the original position 22 for working on a new blank by axial movement of the drive shaft 114 relative to the mechanism 134. The mechanism 134 is constructed so as to freely allow the drive shaft 114 to move axially relative thereto. More specifically, the mechanism 134 is constructed so as to allow the members 154 to move out of engagement with the threads 146 with the threaded portion 144 of the drive shaft, as shown in the lower portion of FIG. 6. V

In order to move the members 154 from an engaged position to a disengaged position the members 154 have protrusions 162 thereon. The protrusions 162 are received in the cam slots 164 in a slide member 166. The mechanism 134 includes a plurality of these slide members 166 complementary with the members 154 spaced circumferentially about the periphery of the member 150. The slide members 166 are located in grooves 168 which extend axially along the member 150. An opening is provided between the grooves 168 and the openings 152 so that the protrusions 162 of the members 154 may extend therethrough to cooperate with the cam slot 154 and the member 156.

An outer circumferential sleeve 170 is secured to the slide members 166 by any suitable means such as the fasteners 172. The cam slot 164 of the slide member 166 is positioned such that when the slide member 166 is moved in one direction the members 154 move to the engaged position in contact with threads 146 of the drive shaft 114 and when the slide member is moved in the other direction, the members 154 are moved to the disengaged position out of contact with the threads 146. Y

The slide members 166 are moved simultaneously by movement of the sleeve 170. Cylinders 174, only one of which is shown, move the sleeve 170 and have one end thereof secured to the frame member 138 and the other end secured to the sleeve 170. Thus, when the cylinders 174 are actuated in one direction they move the sleeve 170 in one direction to move the members 154 into engagement with the threads of the drive shaft 1 14. Conversely, when the cylinders 174 move in the other direction the members 154 are moved to a disengaged position so that the drive shaft 1 14 is free to move axially with respect to the mechanism 134.

When a blank is received by the gripping means 12,

the deforming means 16 and contour means 14 are in a retracted position shown at 24 in FIG. 3. After the blank is received and gripped by the supporting means 12, the deforming means and contour means 16, 14 are moved to a deforming position 22 adjacent to the portion of the blank to be defonned. The movement of the deforming means 16 and contour means 14 from the retracted position 24 to the deforming position 22 is effected by a fluid cylinder 180. The fluid cylinder is of any conventional design and has a body 182 and a piston rod 184. The body 182 is secured to the frame 136 and the rod 184 is secured to a movable plate 186. Fluid pressure may be selectively applied to the cylinder 180 to move the rod 184 and consequently the movable plate 186 in either direction. The plate 186 is connected to the end plate 96 of the deforming means 14 by a plurality of tie rods 190 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. Thus, the deforming member 14 moves with the member 186.

When the deforming means and contour means are moved from the retracted position 24, as described above, the drive shaft 114 is moved axially relative to' the mechanism 134. To effect this movement of the drive shaft 114, member 186 has a fluid cylinder 192 having a rod 194 which is receivable in an opening 196 in the drive shaft 114. The cylinder 192 may be selectively actuated to move the rod 194 to an engaged position in the opening 196 so that it engages the drive shaft 114 and a disengaged position whereby the drive shaft 114 is free to move with respect to the member 186. It should be understood that when the member 194 is in the engaged position, the drive shaft 114 moves with the member 186.

In order to move the deforming means and contour means 16, 14 respectively from the retracted position 24 to the deforming position 22, the axial drive mechanism 134 is in a de-activated condition so that the drive shaft 114 may move freely through the opening 142 of the mechanism 134. In addition the rod 194 is in an engaged position so that the drive shaft 114 moves the contour means 14 as hereinabove described.

As seen in FIG. 1, the contour means 14 is slidably supported by the guide tracks 200. The guide tracks 200 are secured to the frame 136 and serve to guide and support the contour means 14 as it is moved between the position 22 and the position 24. The relative movement of these parts is shown in FIG. 4, as the deforming members 60 begin to ride over the end of the blank 18. As each of the deforming members 60 contact the end of the blank 18, they move radially outwardly so that the blank 18 is positioned between the deforming members 60.

When the deforming means 16 and contour means 14 arrive at the position 22, a cylinder 202 is activated so that the pin 204 engages an opening 206 in the contour means 14. When the pin 204 is in such an engaged position the contour means 14 is prohibited from moving in a direction as indicated by the arrows 106. It should also be understood that the cylinder 180 may remain in an activated condition whereby the contour means 14 is urged toward the blank supporting means 12 after the pin 204 is in an engaged position or may be de-activated.

In order to deform the blank 18 into an article, the cylinder 192 is de-activated so that the rod 194 no longer engages the opening 196 and thereby allows axial movement of the drive shaft 114 and deforming means 16 with respect to the contour means 14 and blank 18.

A lubrication system, generally indicated at 210, is provided to lubricate the deforming member 60 and the blank 18 as the blank is formed into an article. The lubrication system 210 includes a conduit 212 entering one one of the shaft through a rotatable coupling 214. A tube 216 is positioned in a centrally located opening 218 of the drive shaft 114. The tube 216 also extends into the opening 220 of the torque tube 64 as seen in FIG. 7.

The lubricating fluid flows through the tube 216 and centrally located opening 220 to a position adjacent to the deforming members 60. A member 222 is secured to the end of the torque tube 64 so that the lubricant is maintained in the opening 220 and in contact with the deforming members 60. The fluid lubricates the deforming members 60 and the blank 18 so that an article may be more easily formed thereby.

The fluid leaves the opening 220 through the openings 62 in the torque tube, and is subsequentially received by a pan 224 which allows the lubricated fluid to be returned to a pump 226 through a conduit 228. The pump pressurizes the lubricating fluid and returns it through the conduit 212 and 216 to the deforming members 60 and blank 18.

To begin deformation of the blank 18, the clutch is engaged so that the motor 128 rotates the drive shaft 114 and in turn rotates the torque tube 64. When the deforming and contour means 16, 14 are in the deforming position 22, the cylinders 174 are energized to position the mechanism 134 in the engaged position so that the rotation of the torque tube 64 also provides axial movement thereof so that the deforming members 60 move along the contour means 14 to deform the article 18 accordingly. Thus, the deforming means 16 moves in a direction as shown in FIG. 2 so that the blank is deformed thereby as herein above described.

It should be understood that throughout the entire deformation process, the cooling fluid flows through the annular groove 72 to cool the contour means 14. Since little cooling of the blank occurs, the blank is readily deformed due to its increase in temperature and the continuous working of the blank.

As the blank is deformed, the deforming members 60 begin to leave the end of the partially formed blank and are retained in their respective openings by the portions 61 of the flange member and retaining member 100 as shown in FIG. 8. The deforming means 16 continues to move and deform the blank 18 until it reaches a retracted position with respect to the contour means 14. At this point, the blank 18 has been formed into an article and is ready to be removed from the machine.

In order to remove the article, the cylinder 202 is deactivated to move the pin 204 to a disengaged position so that the contour means 14 may freely move on the guides 200. subsequentially the cylinder is actuated in a manner hereinabove described to move the contour means 14 from the position 22 to the retracted position 24 as shown in FIG. 3. When the contour means 14 is so positioned the cylinder 192 is activated in preparation for re-cycling so that another blank may be formed into an article.

The formed article is released from the apparatus 10 by activating the cylinders 32 shown in FIG. 5 so that the arms 30 are moved to a retracted position 230. As the arms 30 are moved to the position 230, the article drops through the opening between the portions 46 of the arms 30 and thereby exits the machine on the guide rails 232 as shown in FIG. 1. At this point the machine 10 is ready to receive another blank from the feeder mechanism 26 and form that blank into an article as hereinabove described.

The above description has been made in connection with a tapered blank 235 as schematically shown in FIG. 9. It should be understood that two machines may be used in alignment with each other so that an article having each end tapered may be formed from a-blank. Such an article is schematically shown at 240 in FIG. 10.

Although the above description of the operation of the apparatus 10 is made in connection with forming a tapered article from a solid rod blank 18, it should also be understood that the blank 18 may be tubular in construction and a tapered tubular article may be formed therefrom. Also, the apparatus can be used to form a stepped article from either a tubular or a solid rod blank. A stepped tubular article is shown at 245 in FIG. 11. To form such a stepped article it is necessary that the contour means 14 have a complementary stepped cam surface so that as the deforming members 60 moves about such a tubular blank and along the axial extent thereof the steps are formed.

It should also be understood that a stepped article as shown in FIG. 12 can be formed wherein the steps increase in diameter in the direction of movement of the deforming means. Such an article is generally indicated at 250 in FIG. 12. A representative cam surface is shown at 66a and functions in a manner as hereinabove described in connection with the apparatus 10.

A complete description of the structure shown in FIG. 12 and the operation thereof will not be made herein, as it should be apparent that the deforming ball members 60 have different diameters, with the trailing ball member 600 having the largest diameter. It should also be apparent that the movement of the deforming means and contour means between the positions 22 and 24 may be varied from that described above in connection with the apparatus of F IG. 1 in order to effect removal of the finished article from the apparatus and the insertion of the new blank into the apparatus.

From the above it should be apparent that the article deformed from a blank may have many various geometric configurations depending on the complementary configuration of the contour means 14. The above geometric configurations are merely representative and it should be understood that other shapes may be manufactured with the apparatus of the present invention. I i

From the above it should be apparent that a new and improved method and apparatus for forming a blank into an articls is provided. The apparatus 10 includes a blank supporting means 12 and a blank deforming means 16 which deforms the blank into an article. The blank deforming means 16 is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the blank 18 and is movable axially relative thereto. A contour means 14 cooperates with the deforming means 16 as the deforming means moves along the longitudinal axis of the blank to control the deforming means. The contour means comprises a cam surface 66 along which the deforming means 16 moves and which controls the position of the deforming means relative to the blank and thus controls the shape of the article formed by the deforming means. Such an apparatus forms a blank into an article in a short period 1. An apparatus for forming a blank having a longitudinal axis into an article having an outer surface at least a portion of which is disposed in a sloping relationship with the longitudinal axis of the article, said apparatus comprising a base, means fixedly connected with said base for non-rotatably supporting the blank in a fixed position relative to said base during deformation of the blank, blank deforming means rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the blank and movable along the longitudmal axis thereof while the blank 15 fixed against rotation as well as axial movement, contour means fixedly connected to said base and cooperating with said deforming means for controlling said deforming means as said deforming means moves along the longitudinal axis of the blank, said contour means comprising a cam member, means for securing said cam member to said base and fixing said cam member against rotation and axial movement relative to said base during formation of the blank into an article, said cam member including a cam surface having a slope equal to the slope of the article and along which said deforming means moves and which controls the position of said deforming means relative to the blank and thus controls the shape of the article formed by said deforming means, said cam surface comprising the interior surface of a tubular shaped cam member positioned coaxially with the rotational axis of said deforming means and the longitudinal axis of the blank, one end of said cam surface being at least partially defined by a circular portion having a diameter larger than the diameter of a circular portion which at least partially defines the other end of said cam surface, said blank deforming means comprising a plurality of deforming members positioned adjacent to and in contact with said cam surface and the blank and cage means for positioning said deforming members with respect to the blank, and drive means for rotating said cage means and said deforming members about the longitudinal axis of the blank and about said cam surface and for moving said deforming members along said cam surface from said one end of said cam surface toward said other end of said cam surface and along the longitudinal axis of the blank to force said deforming members inwardly as said deforming members are moved axially along the blank to deform at least a portion of the surface of the blank inwardly at the same slope as the slope of said cam surface.

2. An apparatus for forming a blank having a longitudinal axis into an article as defined in claim 1 wherein said contour means includes a mounting member for receiving said cam member therein for positioning and securing said cam member in the desired position with respect to the blank, and wherein one of said members of said contour means includes a groove between said mounting member and said cam member for allowing a cooling fluid to pass therethrough to cool said cam member- 

1. An apparatus for forming a blank having a longitudinal axis into an article having an outer surface at least a portion of which is disposed in a sloping relationship with the longitudinal axis of the article, said apparatus comprising a base, means fixedly connected with said base for non-rotatably supporting the blank in a fixed position relative to said base during deformation of the blank, blank deforming means rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the blank and movable along the longitudinal axis thereof while the blank is fixed against rotation as well as axial movement, contour means fixedly connected to said base and cooperating with said deforming means for controlling said deforming means as said deforming means moves along the longitudinal axis of the blank, said contour means comprising a cam member, means for securing said cam member to said base and fixing said cam member against rotation and axial movement relative to said base during formation of the blank into an article, said cam member including a cam surface having a slope equal to the slope of the article and along which said deforming means moves and which controls the position of said deforming means relative to the blank and thus controls the shape of the article formed by said deforming means, said cam surface comprising the interior surface of a tubular shaped cam member positioned coaxially with the rotational axis of said deforming means and the longitudinal axis of the blank, one end of said cam surface being at least partially defined by a circular portion having a diameter larger than the diameter of a circular portion which at least partially defines the other end of said cam surface, said blank deforming means comprising a plurality of deforming members positioned adjacent to and in contact with said cam surface and the blank and cage means for positioning said deforming members with respect to the blank, and drive means for rotating said cage means and said deforming members about the longitudinal axis of the blank and about said cam surface and for moving said deforming members along said cam surface from said one end of said cam surface toward said other end of said cam surface and along the longitudinal axis of the blank to force said deforming members inwardly as said deforming members are moved axially along the blank to deform at least a portion of the surface of the blank inwardly at the same slope as the slope of said cam surface.
 2. An apparatus for forming a blank having a longitudinal axis into an article as defined in claim 1 wherein said contour means includes a mounting member for receiving said cam member therein for positioning and securing said cam member in the desired position with respect to the blank, and wherein one of said members of said contour means includes a groove between said mounting member and said cam member for allowing a cooling fluid to pass therethrough to cool said cam member. 